Patrick Sudlow's blog

Re-Imaging the Commons as ‘The Green Economy’ – New Paper

Once again, it appears the UN has bowed to the markets instead of common-sense. By putting a financial value on nature, just allows it to become another commodity to be speculated on. This is not what a ‘Green Economy’, is about and is not the solution but will only exasperate a worsening situation.

ABSTRACT: The United Nations’ green economy programme radically re-imagines the commons as a space where ecosystems services will be quantified, marketised and traded. This paper will examine issues with this version of the green economy for environmental communicators. It will review the etymology of the concept, examine contested ideas on what a green economy would entail and situate these proposals in relation to different economic approaches to the environment. It will suggest strategies for communicating the contested nature of the proposals and exposing obfuscations. This paper will argue that in stark opposition to green economics with its focus on participation and democratic processes, the UN’s…